Forestville Mystery Cave State Park

Forestville Mystery Cave State Park in southeastern Minnesota protects both a large karst cave system and the historic Forestville townsite. The park’s two main attractions are underground cave tours and the reconstructed 19th-century village interpretation.

Guided tours run into Mystery Cave, where passages and speleothems draw visitors; the Forestville Townsite offers museum-style exhibits and seasonal programming on pioneer life. Trails and picnic areas link the park’s features.

The state park was established to protect the cave and the historic townsite and to provide interpreted public access; development has focused on safe visitor routes into the cave and restoration of Forestville’s buildings.

The park lies in Fillmore County in southeastern Minnesota, near the town of Preston and roughly 150 km southeast of the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

• Cave length: Mystery Cave is the longest known cave in Minnesota, with more than 13 miles (over 20 kilometres) of explored passageways.
• Dual attractions: The park combines natural cave features with a historic 19th-century village, giving two distinct visitor experiences in one site.

What to See #

• Mystery Cave: A cave system open to guided tours that extends for more than 13 miles of known passages and includes dripstone formations and underground streams.
• Forestville Townsite: A reconstructed 19th-century townsite that interprets rural Minnesota life and includes restored buildings and seasonal programs.